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Who does the best wheel alignments?
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micky
Oct 15, 2014, 12:02:21 AM10/15/14
to
1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
wheels aligned. A toyota.
Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
high recommendation yesterday.
The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
Firestone
I was going to take it to the dealer, because I figured that values that
are always fine on cars that only hit chuck holes etc. might be messed
up on mine, given that I knocked a chunk out of my aluminum wheel. I've
considered the possibility I rotated the entire hub assembly on the
strut, though I can find no evidence that I did that**
But a guy I was reading on the web felt that the mechanics at dealers
are all getting paid acc. to flat rate, and that they rush the job to
make more money.
2) Follow=up on my car. Last Tuesday, I think it was, I finished the
front and just as I was about to take it around the block for a test
drive, a young neighbor says, "You know the rear tire is pointing the
wrong direction!" Actually I hadn't noticed. When I took the tire
off, closer to the center line than to the hub, I saw that on the right
rear tire, the forward locating arm was bent, about 25 degrees!
The part is just a metal rod maybe 7/8" thick with a hole on each end.
How much does Toyota want for the part?
$159, can you believe it? Is that because prices in general have gone
up, or is it because it's a foreign car? And Toyota wanted $210 to put
it on. Firestone said it was a 1.1 hour job and wanted $121 to put it
on. And then 80 for wheel alignment, but I'm not complaining about
that.
There are at least two after-market makers of the part and Advance Auto
sells one for 90 dollars. (The only way you can buy it is Ship to Home)
Before I found that, I tried www.car-part.com and it's a great page.
Check it out. It has a long list of names of parts to search for, the
longest list I've seen, and it has a built in interchange book, so it
offers up others models and years that used the same part. (In my case,
the Avalon and Lexus used the same part, for more than one year.) Many
of them are graded A, B, or C, and it has the name, web address, real
address, email address, and phone number, and distance from the zip code
I entered, of the dealer, and added description of the part, like what
color it is for a body part.
It just tells you what yards have your part, and then you call the yard,
verify that it's the right part, and do all your dealings with the yard,
not with car-part.com. I guess recyclers ;-) and junkyards pay to list
the part, whether it sells or not, since I don't think car-part has any
way to know if the part ever sells. Right?
I found 4 used part outlets not too far from me that I didnt' know
about. Well one I knew about and had tried to find, but there was no
sign on the road and I gave up. Now I have the address and they're on a
side road. $50. He says he has 24 of them. If it rains, I'll pick
it up tomorrow. If it doesn't, I still have work to do at home. So
instead of $369, it will be $50 and 1 or 2 hours of my time to install,.
I know I'm slow, but it's only got two bolts. I don't know how it can
take more than an hour once the car is jacked up and on stands. Of
course it always does take longer than I expect.
After this part is installed, I can return the car I've borrowed
(Fortunately for me, my friend's wife just never drives anymore, so she
has it seems no interest in getting the car back. She says, "whatever my
husband says" )
All it will need is alignment.
wheels aligned. A toyota.
Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
high recommendation yesterday.
The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
Firestone
I was going to take it to the dealer, because I figured that values that
are always fine on cars that only hit chuck holes etc. might be messed
up on mine, given that I knocked a chunk out of my aluminum wheel. I've
considered the possibility I rotated the entire hub assembly on the
strut, though I can find no evidence that I did that**
But a guy I was reading on the web felt that the mechanics at dealers
are all getting paid acc. to flat rate, and that they rush the job to
make more money.
2) Follow=up on my car. Last Tuesday, I think it was, I finished the
front and just as I was about to take it around the block for a test
drive, a young neighbor says, "You know the rear tire is pointing the
wrong direction!" Actually I hadn't noticed. When I took the tire
off, closer to the center line than to the hub, I saw that on the right
rear tire, the forward locating arm was bent, about 25 degrees!
The part is just a metal rod maybe 7/8" thick with a hole on each end.
How much does Toyota want for the part?
$159, can you believe it? Is that because prices in general have gone
up, or is it because it's a foreign car? And Toyota wanted $210 to put
it on. Firestone said it was a 1.1 hour job and wanted $121 to put it
on. And then 80 for wheel alignment, but I'm not complaining about
that.
There are at least two after-market makers of the part and Advance Auto
sells one for 90 dollars. (The only way you can buy it is Ship to Home)
Before I found that, I tried www.car-part.com and it's a great page.
Check it out. It has a long list of names of parts to search for, the
longest list I've seen, and it has a built in interchange book, so it
offers up others models and years that used the same part. (In my case,
the Avalon and Lexus used the same part, for more than one year.) Many
of them are graded A, B, or C, and it has the name, web address, real
address, email address, and phone number, and distance from the zip code
I entered, of the dealer, and added description of the part, like what
color it is for a body part.
It just tells you what yards have your part, and then you call the yard,
verify that it's the right part, and do all your dealings with the yard,
not with car-part.com. I guess recyclers ;-) and junkyards pay to list
the part, whether it sells or not, since I don't think car-part has any
way to know if the part ever sells. Right?
I found 4 used part outlets not too far from me that I didnt' know
about. Well one I knew about and had tried to find, but there was no
sign on the road and I gave up. Now I have the address and they're on a
side road. $50. He says he has 24 of them. If it rains, I'll pick
it up tomorrow. If it doesn't, I still have work to do at home. So
instead of $369, it will be $50 and 1 or 2 hours of my time to install,.
I know I'm slow, but it's only got two bolts. I don't know how it can
take more than an hour once the car is jacked up and on stands. Of
course it always does take longer than I expect.
After this part is installed, I can return the car I've borrowed
(Fortunately for me, my friend's wife just never drives anymore, so she
has it seems no interest in getting the car back. She says, "whatever my
husband says" )
All it will need is alignment.
Ed Pawlowski
Oct 15, 2014, 12:14:34 AM10/15/14
to
On 10/15/2014 12:02 AM, micky wrote:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
> Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
> high recommendation yesterday.
>
> The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
> Firestone
Dealers tend to do good work, but at the highst prices.
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
> Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
> high recommendation yesterday.
>
> The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
> Firestone
The chain stores are a crap shoot. You my get a good guy, you may get
the janitor.
We have a local tire shop that is good. Ask around and see if you can
find a similar place.
RobertMacy
Oct 15, 2014, 1:05:28 AM10/15/14
to
On Tue, 14 Oct 2014 21:02:21 -0700, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> ...snip...
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
don't know about the toyota car, but I once hit a deer in Colorado going
about 65mph [me, not the deer] hit the brakes enough to get the car speed
down to ?? maybe 45 before impact, plus the screeching tires spooked the
deer so he tried to change direction and fell under the car. Else very
likely would have come up over the hood and ended up in wife's lap. Impact
was LOUD! Car even lurched up going over.
The car drove a bit wonky after that, so went to several places for an
alignment, One place even commented about, boy this adjustment is waaay
over. No idea what he meant, but drove a bit better, but still drove
wonky. Finally at a 'generic' gas station service bin I was telling the
guy about the impact and how car drives wonky and won't 'hold alignment.
He went over to the hood, pushed down on the right fender [impact side]
went over to left fender pushed down. He then put it up on the rack and
pulled a broken shock out of the right side, suggested I change both, only
because HE found the true problem, I rewarded him with purchasing two
shocks. He undid the chain alignment's efforts and set up the front. After
that it drove just as well as before. So the WHOLE problem was that the
shock had lost ALL drag. It was like not having a shock in there. Learned
a lot from that experience. Just share, because *if* you hit something AND
you have shocks, you may have killed one shock and can no longer be able
to get the front end back to what it should be. No matter how much you
work on adjustments.
micky
Oct 15, 2014, 1:14:00 AM10/15/14
to
On Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:05:28 -0700, RobertMacy <robert...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Thanks. I don't think I would have thought of that any more than you
did. So far, I've only driven it about a quarter mile at 20 MPH max.
If I get the part tomorrow, weather is supposed to be good Th. and Fr,
and I hope to start test driving Thursday afternoon.
Yeah, a guy at a gas station could be just as good. I used to have a
gas station that fixed my car and was in walking distance. But he
made 3 mistakes over 2 years and I stopped going to him, and since then,
Shell has torn it down and rebuillt it with no service bays, only a 7-11
type store.
wrote:
did. So far, I've only driven it about a quarter mile at 20 MPH max.
If I get the part tomorrow, weather is supposed to be good Th. and Fr,
and I hope to start test driving Thursday afternoon.
Yeah, a guy at a gas station could be just as good. I used to have a
gas station that fixed my car and was in walking distance. But he
made 3 mistakes over 2 years and I stopped going to him, and since then,
Shell has torn it down and rebuillt it with no service bays, only a 7-11
type store.
RobertMacy
Oct 15, 2014, 1:26:14 AM10/15/14
to
On Tue, 14 Oct 2014 22:14:00 -0700, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>> ...snip...
'swirling' pattern. Caused not by misalignment but the instability of a
dead shock.
> If I get the part tomorrow, weather is supposed to be good Th. and Fr,
> and I hope to start test driving Thursday afternoon.
>
> Yeah, a guy at a gas station could be just as good. I used to have a
> gas station that fixed my car and was in walking distance. But he
> made 3 mistakes over 2 years and I stopped going to him, and since then,
> Shell has torn it down and rebuillt it with no service bays, only a 7-11
> type store.
I used to have one of those 'local' mechanics. Awesome skill. He could
tighten the license plate bolt and the car would run better. Sure miss
being able to take it to someone with those abilities. He used to say the
problem could be either mechanical, or electrical. Probably not anything
else.
>> ...snip...
> Thanks. I don't think I would have thought of that any more than you
> did. So far, I've only driven it about a quarter mile at 20 MPH max.
>
That was just about the speed where the front end would go into a
> did. So far, I've only driven it about a quarter mile at 20 MPH max.
>
'swirling' pattern. Caused not by misalignment but the instability of a
dead shock.
> If I get the part tomorrow, weather is supposed to be good Th. and Fr,
> and I hope to start test driving Thursday afternoon.
>
> Yeah, a guy at a gas station could be just as good. I used to have a
> gas station that fixed my car and was in walking distance. But he
> made 3 mistakes over 2 years and I stopped going to him, and since then,
> Shell has torn it down and rebuillt it with no service bays, only a 7-11
> type store.
tighten the license plate bolt and the car would run better. Sure miss
being able to take it to someone with those abilities. He used to say the
problem could be either mechanical, or electrical. Probably not anything
else.
trader_4
Oct 15, 2014, 4:05:27 AM10/15/14
to
On Wednesday, October 15, 2014 12:02:21 AM UTC-4, micky wrote:
If the dealer is in the same price range, that would be my first
choice. Not only do they know the car, but dealers usually have
the latest and best equipment.
I've pretty much stopped using my local independent foreign car
shop here. Used to be they were substantially less on labor rate
and parts. Now they're close to the dealer with both. At that point,
I think the dealer is likely less, because they have more experience
with the particular car and better diagnostic tools. I think you
could wind up paying more at the independent, where they spend 3 hours
figuring out something that the dealer mechanic can do in half the time.
First strategy is to stay away from either, I do a lot of work myself.
If the dealer is in the same price range, that would be my first
choice. Not only do they know the car, but dealers usually have
the latest and best equipment.
I've pretty much stopped using my local independent foreign car
shop here. Used to be they were substantially less on labor rate
and parts. Now they're close to the dealer with both. At that point,
I think the dealer is likely less, because they have more experience
with the particular car and better diagnostic tools. I think you
could wind up paying more at the independent, where they spend 3 hours
figuring out something that the dealer mechanic can do in half the time.
First strategy is to stay away from either, I do a lot of work myself.
Steve W.
Oct 15, 2014, 7:21:12 AM10/15/14
to
micky wrote:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
> Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
> high recommendation yesterday.
>
> The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
> Firestone
>
> I was going to take it to the dealer, because I figured that values that
> are always fine on cars that only hit chuck holes etc. might be messed
> up on mine, given that I knocked a chunk out of my aluminum wheel. I've
> considered the possibility I rotated the entire hub assembly on the
> strut, though I can find no evidence that I did that**
>
> But a guy I was reading on the web felt that the mechanics at dealers
> are all getting paid acc. to flat rate, and that they rush the job to
> make more money.
In this case I would suggest a dealer. For a couple reasons. One is that
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
> Someone I know and trust also gave a particular guy at Pep Boys a very
> high recommendation yesterday.
>
> The dealer is having a sale this month, so it's the same price as
> Firestone
>
> I was going to take it to the dealer, because I figured that values that
> are always fine on cars that only hit chuck holes etc. might be messed
> up on mine, given that I knocked a chunk out of my aluminum wheel. I've
> considered the possibility I rotated the entire hub assembly on the
> strut, though I can find no evidence that I did that**
>
> But a guy I was reading on the web felt that the mechanics at dealers
> are all getting paid acc. to flat rate, and that they rush the job to
> make more money.
they are familiar with your make of vehicle far more than a chain store,
and as such the tech may notice other damage or issues that you didn't
see. Two is that some vehicles need additional parts if they do need
things moved for an alignment, the dealer will likely have those on hand.
Pretty much ALL techs get paid flat rate these days. So, yes they try to
get things done. BUT if they know how to run the machine and pay
attention it will turn out OK.
Make sure you specify a 4 wheel alignment, that damaged radius rod may
have tweaked other parts in the rear as well. I would check to make sure
that rim isn't bent and that nothing else was damaged.
--
Steve W.
Bob F
Oct 15, 2014, 1:36:20 PM10/15/14
to
micky wrote:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
I've had excellent results by buying Firestone's "lifetime" alignment. For about
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
twice the cost of one alignment (less on sale) I never have ot pay to align that
car again.
Scott Dorsey
Oct 15, 2014, 3:17:15 PM10/15/14
to
micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
>Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
An alignment shop.
>1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
>Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
Ask your local kid racer where the local alignment shop is.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 15, 2014, 5:30:40 PM10/15/14
to
On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 00:02:21 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
wrote:
You want an alignment specialist. Some dealers have them, most do
not Some tire shops like firestone or PepBoys have someone who knows
alignments inside out and backwards - most do not. In my long
experience in the automotive industry, a small busy shop who does LOTS
of alignments is generally your best bet. The guy does alignments all
day - he does them for local body shops and dealers as well as his own
clients, so he gets really good at it, and the prices are usually VERY
competetive.
wrote:
not Some tire shops like firestone or PepBoys have someone who knows
alignments inside out and backwards - most do not. In my long
experience in the automotive industry, a small busy shop who does LOTS
of alignments is generally your best bet. The guy does alignments all
day - he does them for local body shops and dealers as well as his own
clients, so he gets really good at it, and the prices are usually VERY
competetive.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 15, 2014, 5:34:52 PM10/15/14
to
bending the strut, having the shock fail from the impact described is
a REAL long shot. Like 1 in 10,000 long shot.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 15, 2014, 5:37:03 PM10/15/14
to
On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 07:21:12 -0400, "Steve W." <csr...@NOTyahoo.com>
wrote:
You want to pray REAL HARD you didn't tweak the uni-body - that's
like bending the frame but the whole car body gets bent out of shape
and it needs to be pulled back to alignment on a unicoupe rack.
wrote:
like bending the frame but the whole car body gets bent out of shape
and it needs to be pulled back to alignment on a unicoupe rack.
Oren
Oct 15, 2014, 5:50:36 PM10/15/14
to
> All it will need is alignment.
So use a shop that has the tools. They can figure it out.
Kentucky Fried Chicken is not the place to go in Baltimore!
Tony Hwang
Oct 15, 2014, 6:51:37 PM10/15/14
to
Out here in Calgary, there is such a place called Global steering clinic.
Red Green
Oct 15, 2014, 7:26:23 PM10/15/14
to
micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote in
news:idqr3alhjgehm77r0...@4ax.com:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
PepBoys left my lugs on a tire loose once.
news:idqr3alhjgehm77r0...@4ax.com:
> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>
> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
N8N
Oct 15, 2014, 7:47:02 PM10/15/14
to
On Wednesday, October 15, 2014 12:02:21 AM UTC-4, micky wrote:
nate
Guv Bob
Oct 16, 2014, 2:18:40 AM10/16/14
to
"micky" <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:idqr3alhjgehm77r0...@4ax.com...
I think you're doing the right thing by learning as much as you can first. Then at least you can talk intelligently to someone and judge how qualified they are to do the work.
When I need to get a referral for some kind of work that I'm not familiar with, I generally check with the independent places that sell the type of materials that the job would call for. (Indept auto parts shop for mechanics, paint stores for painters, etc.) Then if it's something expensive or really important that they don't screw it up, I get at least 3 references from them and call each one. Takes some time, but this method has worked well for me every time.
I can think of several times that I did not check first. Like the plumber that came over drunk to work on a gas pipe. Or the tree trimmer that was careless and nearly fell out of a tree.
When I need to get a referral for some kind of work that I'm not familiar with, I generally check with the independent places that sell the type of materials that the job would call for. (Indept auto parts shop for mechanics, paint stores for painters, etc.) Then if it's something expensive or really important that they don't screw it up, I get at least 3 references from them and call each one. Takes some time, but this method has worked well for me every time.
I can think of several times that I did not check first. Like the plumber that came over drunk to work on a gas pipe. Or the tree trimmer that was careless and nearly fell out of a tree.
gregz
Oct 16, 2014, 2:59:58 AM10/16/14
to
last time I checked. I think the same for our inspections.
Greg
trader_4
Oct 16, 2014, 8:03:33 AM10/16/14
to
5000 miles and he'll have one of those cool cars that you see every
once in a while where the car is pointed in one direction while traveling
in a slightly different direction.
21bla...@gmail.com
Oct 16, 2014, 11:08:49 AM10/16/14
to
someone mentioned a Firestone "lifetime" alignment,
which sounds very interesting
if you plan on having your car, say more than 5 yrs,
you might consider the above
marc
which sounds very interesting
if you plan on having your car, say more than 5 yrs,
you might consider the above
marc
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 16, 2014, 12:17:33 PM10/16/14
to
On Thu, 16 Oct 2014 06:59:58 +0000 (UTC), gregz <ze...@comcast.net>
wrote:
That can be an advantage or a disadvantage.
Chain stores that align and replace parts very often end up replacing
parts that are perfectly acceptable, just to make the commission.
Had a firestone store condemn a set of ball joints on my old Valliant
that were less than 2 months old and perfectly within specs - they
just looked at the odometer and said it needed new joints - - -
But if they DON'tT replace parts, it means they check the alignment -
say it is out of adjustment range or whatever and needs part "A"
replaced - you take it to another shop, or home and DIY, bring it back
and it is still out of range - it needs part "B" replaced - and on,
and on, and on - particularly where damage is known to have occurred.
- and it can get quite expensive and irritating.
wrote:
Chain stores that align and replace parts very often end up replacing
parts that are perfectly acceptable, just to make the commission.
Had a firestone store condemn a set of ball joints on my old Valliant
that were less than 2 months old and perfectly within specs - they
just looked at the odometer and said it needed new joints - - -
But if they DON'tT replace parts, it means they check the alignment -
say it is out of adjustment range or whatever and needs part "A"
replaced - you take it to another shop, or home and DIY, bring it back
and it is still out of range - it needs part "B" replaced - and on,
and on, and on - particularly where damage is known to have occurred.
- and it can get quite expensive and irritating.
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 16, 2014, 12:18:39 PM10/16/14
to
at it though - (whether they are worn out or not)
Bob F
Oct 16, 2014, 7:27:24 PM10/16/14
to
right, I replaced it, and took it back and they aligned it again. No charge.
Tekkie®
Oct 16, 2014, 9:34:55 PM10/16/14
to
RobertMacy posted for all of us...
I may not have read all messages.
Obviously they did a crappy job. Suspension inspection is one of the first
things to perform. An honorable shop does not sell parts you do not need.
The shop makes good money and gets a good reputation from honesty.
A tipoff would have been the fur underneath.
Claire would you agree with this?
--
Tekkie
I may not have read all messages.
things to perform. An honorable shop does not sell parts you do not need.
The shop makes good money and gets a good reputation from honesty.
A tipoff would have been the fur underneath.
Claire would you agree with this?
--
Tekkie
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 12:02:05 AM10/17/14
to
put the top up again, it met the windshield properly.
In 1970, I lent my 1965 Pontiac Catalina convertible to a young guy and
within an hour he ran a stop sign in a school zone, because, he said, I
pickup camper was parked where he couldn't see the sign.
After that, the pins in the top were at least an inch from the matching
holes in the windshield frame. For one or two years. Then they were
perfect for one or two years, and then they were just as bad as before
for one or two years.
So the fact that the top matched the windshield on this one occasion is
encouraging.
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 12:04:23 AM10/17/14
to
in a case like this. in the post I just posted, I talk about how the
fame jumped around in a previous car that was hit, so I can see needing
more than one alignment.
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 12:05:36 AM10/17/14
to
On 15 Oct 2014 15:17:15 -0400, klu...@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
>micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>>wheels aligned. A toyota.
>>
>>Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>>PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
>An alignment shop.
I googled for that and couldn't find anything.
>micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote:
>>1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>>wheels aligned. A toyota.
>>
>>Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>>PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
>An alignment shop.
>
>Ask your local kid racer where the local alignment shop is.
I don't know anyone like that. Maybe there are still hot-rod clubs.
>Ask your local kid racer where the local alignment shop is.
What would they be called now?
>--scott
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 12:08:34 AM10/17/14
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On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:51:37 -0600, Tony Hwang <drag...@shaw.ca> wrote:
>cl...@snyder.on.ca wrote:
>> On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 00:02:21 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
>> wrote:
.............
>cl...@snyder.on.ca wrote:
>> On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 00:02:21 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
>> wrote:
>>> After this part is installed, I can return the car I've borrowed
>>> (Fortunately for me, my friend's wife just never drives anymore, so she
>>> has it seems no interest in getting the car back. She says, "whatever my
>>> husband says" )
>>>
>>> All it will need is alignment.
>> You want an alignment specialist. Some dealers have them, most do
>> not Some tire shops like firestone or PepBoys have someone who knows
>> alignments inside out and backwards - most do not. In my long
>> experience in the automotive industry, a small busy shop who does LOTS
>> of alignments is generally your best bet. The guy does alignments all
>> day - he does them for local body shops and dealers as well as his own
>> clients, so he gets really good at it, and the prices are usually VERY
>> competetive.
I'll keep looking.
>>> (Fortunately for me, my friend's wife just never drives anymore, so she
>>> has it seems no interest in getting the car back. She says, "whatever my
>>> husband says" )
>>>
>>> All it will need is alignment.
>> You want an alignment specialist. Some dealers have them, most do
>> not Some tire shops like firestone or PepBoys have someone who knows
>> alignments inside out and backwards - most do not. In my long
>> experience in the automotive industry, a small busy shop who does LOTS
>> of alignments is generally your best bet. The guy does alignments all
>> day - he does them for local body shops and dealers as well as his own
>> clients, so he gets really good at it, and the prices are usually VERY
>> competetive.
>Hi,
>Out here in Calgary, there is such a place called Global steering clinic.
to go there.
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 12:12:29 AM10/17/14
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On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 23:26:23 +0000 (UTC), Red Green
<postm...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote in
>news:idqr3alhjgehm77r0...@4ax.com:
>
>> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>>
>> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
>PepBoys left my lugs on a tire loose once.
They took 4 tries fixing my mothers tire before they figured out that it
<postm...@127.0.0.1> wrote:
>micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com> wrote in
>news:idqr3alhjgehm77r0...@4ax.com:
>
>> 1) After all the damage to my wheels, etc. I figure I should have the
>> wheels aligned. A toyota.
>>
>> Who do you think does the best job? A Toyotal dealer, Firestone,
>> PepBoys, or a gas station with busy service bays who was recommended?
>
>PepBoys left my lugs on a tire loose once.
leaked around the valve once, so I stopped going there.
But the guy at Autozone named a guy there who he described in glowing
terms.
Oren just said "Kentucky Fried Chicken is not the place to go in
Baltimore!". Now that's strange because the other place the same guy
recommended was on Rte 40 right next to KFC and close to McDonalds. It
has changed its name so he couldn't remember the name, but I can find
it. Oren, be assured, I won't go to KFC but to the shop next door.
micky
Oct 17, 2014, 11:07:58 AM10/17/14
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On Wed, 15 Oct 2014 07:21:12 -0400, "Steve W." <csr...@NOTyahoo.com>
wrote:
wrote:
I'm too susceptible to suggestions -- I've noticed this in other
situations too -- like this one guy I've never met on a web page I've
never heard of who thinks dealers are a bad idea.
>Make sure you specify a 4 wheel alignment, that damaged radius rod may
>have tweaked other parts in the rear as well. I would check to make sure
>that rim isn't bent and that nothing else was damaged.
Is that the same as the rear lower control arm, the locating arm, the
rear lower suspension arm #1 (I think that's what the shop manual calls
it)? I think it has other names too. Makes it hard to shop for it.
Steve W.
Oct 17, 2014, 2:57:44 PM10/17/14
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--
Steve W.
TimR
Oct 17, 2014, 4:43:05 PM10/17/14
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Covered everything but parts and labor.
Percival P. Cassidy
Oct 17, 2014, 5:02:08 PM10/17/14
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On 10/17/2014 04:43 PM, TimR wrote:
>> someone mentioned a Firestone "lifetime" alignment,
>>
>> which sounds very interesting
>>
>>
>>
>> if you plan on having your car, say more than 5 yrs,
>>
>> you might consider the above
>> someone mentioned a Firestone "lifetime" alignment,
>>
>> which sounds very interesting
>>
>>
>>
>> if you plan on having your car, say more than 5 yrs,
>>
>> you might consider the above
> My wife had brake rotors put on with a lifetime guarantee from one of those chain exhaust places I won't name.
>
> Covered everything but parts and labor.
So what *did* the warranty cover?
>
> Covered everything but parts and labor.
Perce
Stormin Mormon
Oct 17, 2014, 5:39:30 PM10/17/14
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cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 17, 2014, 5:58:23 PM10/17/14
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On Thu, 16 Oct 2014 21:34:55 -0400, Tekkie® <Tek...@comcast.net>
wrote:
Definitely. When a car or truck comes in with a stability problem
and the owner wants an alignment, the first thing you look for is
signs of damage - and deer parts would definitely raise a red flag!!!
Then you check the settings - f something is way off you check the
related parts for damage.
Before doing an alignment suspension hight, tire pressures, etc all
need to be checked as well.
Had a customer come in with their car pulling hard to the right - said
they had just had Firestone do an alignment and now it was worse.
Being a tire store you would THINK they would have at least checked
the tire pressure - if not the tire condition - and sold the guy a set
of tires. The one tire was at 18psi and the other must have been 1/4
inch bigger on the outside than the inside.
I got to sell the guy a set of 4 tires (and they were not Firestones)
wrote:
and the owner wants an alignment, the first thing you look for is
signs of damage - and deer parts would definitely raise a red flag!!!
Then you check the settings - f something is way off you check the
related parts for damage.
Before doing an alignment suspension hight, tire pressures, etc all
need to be checked as well.
Had a customer come in with their car pulling hard to the right - said
they had just had Firestone do an alignment and now it was worse.
Being a tire store you would THINK they would have at least checked
the tire pressure - if not the tire condition - and sold the guy a set
of tires. The one tire was at 18psi and the other must have been 1/4
inch bigger on the outside than the inside.
I got to sell the guy a set of 4 tires (and they were not Firestones)
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 17, 2014, 5:59:49 PM10/17/14
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ink, if that counts - - - -
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Oct 17, 2014, 6:01:15 PM10/17/14
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On Fri, 17 Oct 2014 00:02:05 -0400, micky <NONONO...@bigfoot.com>
Which only means it isn't twisted from the firewall back.
micky
Oct 19, 2014, 3:57:28 PM10/19/14
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Tekkie®
Oct 19, 2014, 9:49:01 PM10/19/14
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cl...@snyder.on.ca posted for all of us...
> >A tipoff would have been the fur underneath.
> >
> >Claire would you agree with this?
> Definitely. When a car or truck comes in with a stability problem
> and the owner wants an alignment, the first thing you look for is
> signs of damage - and deer parts would definitely raise a red flag!!!
> Then you check the settings - f something is way off you check the
> related parts for damage.
> Before doing an alignment suspension hight, tire pressures, etc all
> need to be checked as well.
>
> Had a customer come in with their car pulling hard to the right - said
> they had just had Firestone do an alignment and now it was worse.
>
> Being a tire store you would THINK they would have at least checked
> the tire pressure - if not the tire condition - and sold the guy a set
> of tires. The one tire was at 18psi and the other must have been 1/4
> inch bigger on the outside than the inside.
>
> I got to sell the guy a set of 4 tires (and they were not Firestones)
It just shows that if a shop does crap work then good shops will thrive.
--
Tekkie
> >A tipoff would have been the fur underneath.
> >
> >Claire would you agree with this?
> Definitely. When a car or truck comes in with a stability problem
> and the owner wants an alignment, the first thing you look for is
> signs of damage - and deer parts would definitely raise a red flag!!!
> Then you check the settings - f something is way off you check the
> related parts for damage.
> Before doing an alignment suspension hight, tire pressures, etc all
> need to be checked as well.
>
> Had a customer come in with their car pulling hard to the right - said
> they had just had Firestone do an alignment and now it was worse.
>
> Being a tire store you would THINK they would have at least checked
> the tire pressure - if not the tire condition - and sold the guy a set
> of tires. The one tire was at 18psi and the other must have been 1/4
> inch bigger on the outside than the inside.
>
> I got to sell the guy a set of 4 tires (and they were not Firestones)
--
Tekkie
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